Hopper capable of being emptied in a regulatable manner



Feb. 6, 1962 P. JEAN-MARIE T. ALLARD 3,019,949

HOPPER CAPABLE OF' BEING EMPTIED IN A REGULATABLE MANNER Filed Feb. l2,1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v Vff/v To Feb. 6, "i962 P. JEAN-MARIE: T.ALLARD 3,019,949

HOPPER CAPABLE OF BEING EMPTIED IN A REGULATABLE MANNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 12, 1959 5 ma as ,M Q4/.1.4

Feb. 6, 1962 P. JEAN-MARIE T. ALLARD 3,019,949

HOPPER CAPABLE oF BEING EMPTIED IN A REGULATABLE MANNER Filed Feb. 12,1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ited States Patent C 3,019,949 VHOIPER CAIABLE OFBEING EMPTIED IN A REGULATABLE MANNER Pierre Jean-Marie Theodore Allard,8 Rue de Soisy, Eaubonne, France Filed Feb. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 792,803Claims priority, application France Feb. 15, 1953 4 Claims. (Cl.222-502) The invention relates to a hopper receiving and dischargingbulk materials which are difficult to pour, such as adhesive or cakingmaterials or materials in the form of blocks.

Conventional hoppers generally have a downwardly convergent lowerportion which directs the material in the hopper toward the outletaperture, which is selectively opened or closed by suitable means,thereby discharging these materials as desired.

A drawback of these prior hoppers is that when the material is of theaforementioned type, they are not easily emptied and often require thatthe sides have a relatively steep slope to avoid or reduce the cloggingor obstruction of the outlet aperture. Owing to the provision of theseslopes, the material sliding along the downwardly convergentwalls has atendency -to clog or to beco-me wedged, thus forming an arch whichhinders the tlow of this material. Further, owing to the shape of thelower walls, these hop-pers are excessively high for a p-articularvolumetric capacity.

Brielly, the invention comprises a supporting structure upon which twoconfronting bucket members are mounted for individual pivotal movementabout spaced parallel axes. Each bucket is open `at the side which facesthe other bucket member so that the two bucket members communicatefreely with each other. The two bucket members have at bottom portionswhich are normally substantially coplanar. The tlat bottom portions haverectilinear edges which are equidistant from the parallel horizontallyextending pivotal axes. Lateral portions of each bucket member are cutaway so tha-t both bucket members are individually movable in eitherdirection, each independently of the other, away from the normalposition wherein their bottom portions are horizontal and the edges ofthe bottom portions are effectively in contact with each other so thatthe discharge of material is shut olf. By tilting the bucket membersaway from each other in opposite directions, the bulk material is brokenup from any caked condition. After breaking up the caked condition, thebucket members may be separately tilted to discharge lirst the contentsof one bucket and then the other.

Various additional features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following speciiication with reference to theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic elevational view of a hopper according to theinvention, in its normal or closed state;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the hopper shown in FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3-5 are views similar to FIG. l of the hopper in various positionsin the course of emptying the material contained therein.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hopper of the invention comprises thehopper proper designated .generally as l, a chassis or supportingstructure designated generally as 2 which has a shape and size suitablefoi the vehicle or other evacuating means on which the material must beplaced. This chassis comprises legs 3 and 4 interconnected bycross-members 5 and additional legs 3a and 4a.

The hopper 1 comprises two confronting buck-et members designatedgenerally as 6 and 7. The bucket memr'ice bers 6 and 7 are mounted forindividual pivotal movement on spaced parallel horizontal shafts 8 and 9which are journaled in the legs 3 and 4.

The bucket members 6 and 7 are identical so that they constitute a pairand are disposed symmetrically in confronting relationship. The bucketmember 6 comprises a at normally horizontal bottom portion 10, an outerwall 11 and two lateral Walls 12 and 13 (FIG. 2). Similar portions ofthe other bucket member 7 are designated by corresponding referencenumerals each with the suixa. The flat bottom portions 510 and 16a aredisposed in the same horizontal plane when the hopper 1 is in its normalor closed condition as shown in FIG. 1.' In the normal position, therectilinear inner edges 14, 14a are in contact with one another toprevent the discharge of material from the hopper 1.

The lateral walls 12, 12a and 13, ,13a (the wall 13a is not visible inthe drawing) are cut away as indicated in dotted lines, so that thebucket members 6 and 7 arel capable of individual pivotal movement ineither direc.

K A pair of spaced parallel vertical side plate members 18, 19 issecured to the chassisZ. Each of the side plate mem-bers 18 and .19extends perpendicularly with respect to the horizontal pivotal axesprovided by the shafts 8 and 9. The side plate members 18, 19 laterallyenclose the cut away portions .15, 15a of the bucket members 6 and 7throughout the range of pivotal movements shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 sothat material can be discharged from the hopper l1 only over therectilinear edges 1'4, 14a.

For displacement of the bucket members, two hydraulic cylinders `20, 20ahave their body portions individually pivoted to the side plate 18 lat21, 21a, respectively. The free end of the piston rod of cylinder Z0 ispivoted to the bucket member `6 at 22. The piston rod of cylinder 20a issimilarly pivoted to the bucket member 7 at 22a. At the opposite side ofbucket member 6 a further hydraulic cylinder 23 (FIG. 2) is providedwhich cooperates with the cylinder 20 to tilt the bucket member 6. Asimilar additional cylinder (not visible in the drawing) is provided forthe bucket member 7. With the hopper 1 closed, as shown in FIG. 1, allof the piston rods are in a semi-extended condition. Suitable means (notshown) for supplying pressure fluid to the hydraulic cylinders 20, 2/3is provided together with appropriate control means for causing thecylinders 20, 23- to displace either or both of the bucket members 6 and7, at will, in either direction from the normal or closed position asshown in FIG. 1.

Discharge of material M from the hopper 1 is effected in the followingmanner:

The pair of hydraulic cylinders comprising cylinder 20a connected to thebucket member 7 is actuated to tilt the bucket member 7 outwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 3, the bucket member 6 remaining stationary.

Tilting of the bucket member 7 decompresses or loosens the material inline with the previously closed junction line of the bottoms 10 and ltlaof the bucket members 6, 7. The loosened material is discharged beneaththe hopper as indicated in FIG. 3 through the space E between thenormally contacting edges of the bucket members 6 and 7. This dischargewill continue until the loosened material assumes its slope of repose asindicated at T.

Thereafter, the bucket member 6 is tilted inwardly to the position shownin FIG. 4, so that it is completely emptied, the material beingdischarged through a guide funnel comprising tiaps 24 and 25 which areshown connected to the cross-members 5.

The discharge is completed by tilting the bucket members 6 and 7outwardly and inwardly, respectively, to the positions shown in FIG. 5.This movement will result in the final emptying of bucket member 7which, as shown in FIGS, 3 and 4, was previously only partially emptied.

The discharge may be interrupted at will be restoring the bucket members6 and 7 to their normal positions as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the curved edges 17, 17a may be modified to have thearcuate shape indicated in dotdash lines at 26, 26a. If the modifiedshape 26, 26a is used, material may ow outwardly beyond the edges 14,14a as well as downwardly between the edges 14, 14a when the two bucketmembers 6 and 7 are tilted inwardly toward each other.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be the bestembodiments of 'my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hopper of the class described, comprising: a pair of confrontingbucket members having normally substantially horizontal and coplanariiat bottom portions, each of said bucket members being open at the sidewhich faces the other and each communicating with the other through saidopen side, means supporting said bucket members for individual pivotalmovement about 35 horizontally spaced parallel axes in either directionaway from their respective normal positions, lateral portions of saidbucket members being cut away to permit individual pivotal movement ofeither bucket member in either direction independently of the other,said bottom portions having rectilinear edges which are normallyetectively in contact with each other and equidistant from said axes, apair of spaced parallel side plate members extending perpendicularly tosaid axes and laterally enclosing said cut away portions, and separatedisplacement means connected to each bucket member fo` effecting saidindividual pivotal movement thereof.

2. A hopper according to claim 1, wherein said lateral portions are cutaway to define edges the lower portions of which are shaped as sectorsof circles concentric with said axes, the lower ends of said sectorspassing through said rectilinear edges.

3. A hopper according to claim 1, wherein said lateral portions are cutaway to an extent suiiicient to permit simultaneous displacement of bothof said bucket members in the same direction with their respectivebottom portions maintained parallel.

4. A hopper according to claim 1, whereinsaid displacement meanscomprises hydraulic cylinder means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS779,908 Clark Jan. 10, 1905 2,136,890 Roberts Nov. 15, 1938 2,437,302Maxon Mar. 9, 1948 2,501,743 Schellentrager Mar. 28, 1950 2,836,332Standish et al. Mar. 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 108,165 Switzerland Apr.16, 1925 744,995 France Jan. 3l, 1933

